Magill: Bernstein takes charge during Southern Open

Drake Bernstein, the Banner-Herald's boys tennis Player of the Year while at Winder-Barrow in 2007, achieved his greatest honor last Sunday.

He captured the Southern Open held at Collins Hill.

Bernstein upset Duluth's Davis Dawson 6-0, 6-4 in the finals.

Bernstein was a substitute on Georgia's 2008 NCAA championship team as a freshman and this past season as a sophomore he was a regular, alternating at Nos. 4-6 singles and the Nos. 2 and 3 doubles teams.

"Drake is one of the hardest working players I've ever seen and it is paying off for him," Georgia head coach Manuel Diaz said. "Winning the Southern Open is a big feather in his cap."

Native Athenian Jack Frierson, who served as captain of Georgia's 1992 team, an assistant coach 1997-2000 and is now a local attorney, frequently played with Bernstein in the offseason and gave him some pointers.

"Drake is an excellent athlete, hard worker and loves tennis as much as anybody I've ever known," Frierson said of Bernstein's latest accomplishment. "I'm not surprised he won the Southern Open. He was runner-up two years ago, losing a close match with Ryan Haviland, former Stanford All-American."

The Bulldogs assistant coach Will Glenn first recommended that Bernstein be given a tennis scholarship at Georgia. He was impressed while watching Bernstein as a 15-year-old.

"Drake has a strong backhand down the line, hits a heavy ball and is a good all-around player," Glenn said.

The Bulldogs finished this season ranked No. 6 in the country. They expect to be stronger next year. Five of the six starters return.

Bernstein impressed me every match I saw him play at Henry Feild Stadium last season. He has the talent to be a No. 1 player before he graduates.